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St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Wigan, WN4 9PFSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2021
Progress 8
+0.16
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
223 1st-choice / 227 places
Ranking
#1,176
of 3,141 nationally

About St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School sits in Wigan, a local authority where the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools sits at -0.3, meaning most schools in the borough see pupils make slightly less progress than the national average. Against that backdrop, this Roman Catholic 11-16 mixed state school stands out: it ranks first out of 19 schools in Wigan on Progress 8, comfortably ahead of its nearest named peers. Atherton High School, Golborne High School, and Standish Community High School all record negative Progress 8 scores, while St Edmund Arrowsmith posts a positive 0.16. The school is also the top-performing non-selective state secondary in the borough, and its closest Outstanding-rated neighbour, Golborne High School, is 3.5 kilometres away. With a capacity of 1,250 and 1,202 pupils on roll, it is almost full, and oversubscription is high: for 2025/26 entry, there were 387 applications for 227 places, with 223 first-preference applications and 219 first-preference offers made.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressRookery Avenue, Wigan, Wigan, WN4 9PF
HeadteacherMark Dumican
Local AuthorityWigan
Number of Pupils1,202
Free School Meals (FSM)13.2%
School Capacity1,202 / 1,250 (96% full)

The full report on this school

What 29 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (17 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 Feb 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Science LabsPlaying FieldsSports HallSixth Form CentreGymnasiumDining HallTheatreAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

NetballMartial ArtsAthleticsRoundersHockeyDanceBadminton

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubNewspaperChessDramaModel United NationsChoir

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthHearingVisionLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:05

Source: arrowsmith.wigan.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield

St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.